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Memorial Day decorating inspiration

Work is having a Memorial Day contest - the department that wins the decorating contest gets a VIP Ice Cream Social. I'd love for my team to win something like that so I've decided to kick-butt and create some awesome decorations!


My idea is to take vintage military pictures (preferably family members) and postcards, surround with pleated cupcake wrappers to simulate bunting, and hang from the cubical dividers, with crepe paper streamers.

Inspiration and Resources
http://www.morechicthanshabby.com/2010/05/patriotic-party-ideas.html

http://simplydesigning.blogspot.com/2010/05/blog-swap-with-every-crafty-endeavor.html

http://www.nanaluluslinensandhandkerchiefs.com/index.cfm/fa/categories.main/parentcat/31642

http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/patriotic-crafts#slide_2

http://littlequilts.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html

http://www.heartrockshome.com/heartrockshome/2009/05/let-us-remember.html

http://www.purpletrail.com/partytrail/party_ideas/holiday_parties/memorial_day

Finished project - Gypsy's Secret

I am so thrilled with the way this turned out! Cigar box, Re-ment miniatures, torn paper collage, alcohol inks, and a customized Obitsu doll.

New Assemblage for 30 Days of Creativity

Take one nice, sturdy wooden box and cover with gesso. Actually first I had to scrape off the various stickers & pogs some young person had decorated it with, then I used the gesso. This is mostly to provide a surface for more paint and paper.


I love alcohol inks! I originally bought them to use on my skulls to simulate moss and fungi but find myself reaching for them more and more. Here they add some background color and texture.

Inspiration shout-outs

I was inspired by "pretty little mini quilts" published by Lark Books.

There are a couple designs in the book I want to try next: "have a cup" designed by Mary Hubbard and "shrine to pretty little things" designed by Janie Fingal. I've got so many bits and pieces of fabrics horded plus my stash of vintage table linens & doilies should keep me busy for awhile.


The other book to really spark my creative jones "Mixed-Media Dollhouses" by Tally Oliveau and Julie Molina. These are just so cool!!! I have bunches of containers and miniatures I've collected over the years that are stuck away in storage. This idea seems like the perfect way to blend both. I went on a Re-Ment bing a few years ago and have some adorable miniatures of varying scales. Plus I have a big box of old German dollhouse furniture that needs to see the light of day.

Mini Quilt - 30 Days of Creativity

I'm so happy with the way this turned out!

It's approximately 13"x18" of cotton fabric (mostly those fat quarter and charm packs that JoAnn Fabric's sell), bamboo batting, and various stitches on my machine. The leaf shapes are double stuffed and free-hand stitched on the machine for a trapunto effect.


Check out the 30 Days of Creativity's Twitter and website.

Earlier this morning I spent several delicious hours reading various blogs that focused on doll houses and miniatures. When I was younger I was a pretty serious miniaturist. I even made a working loom following life size directions in one of the Foxfire books. I loved the itty-bitty stuff. So I got the fancy to build a doll house kit.

As I was looked up kits I came across this: Greenleaf Miniature Travel Trailer! How adorable! It sparked the idea of doing one for my Mom since she loves the old 'canned ham' and Airstream styles.

Later I was browsing the magazines at Barnes & Noble when I spotted the corner of a 'Miniature Collector' magazine peaking out behind a knitting magazine. As I haven't looked at one in years I pulled it out of the rack. And this was the cover...

Ok... I think I'm supposed to make a tiny travel trailer this summer. I'm good with that :)